New approx. 2 month old hamster eating bed fluff

Question
Hi Karen,
You answered a question for me regarding our beloved "Mr. Fluffy" last week who died so now, we have a new little guy to take care of and love.
"Scooter" is a honey-bear hamster and is supposedly 2 months old.  We brought him home yesterday and he has been just a love.  He already takes food from us, lets us pet him and his very, very active.  He ran in his wheel from 4pm to 8pm before taking a "nap."  My worry is this, he's not drinking much, so I am giving bits of apple to get his water and also, he is eating some of his bed fluff.  Not too much, and now, he's settled down in it and made a bed.  I remember our "Mr. Fluffy" doing this when he was young and he was fine.  The fluff is 100% cotton so I know it won't digest well.  I'm not sure how much he ate, my daughter saw him but he seems fine, with nothing in his cheeks.  Should I take the bedding out and use a natural wood-fiber bedding like Kaylee?

Thanks Karen and sorry for such a long email.

Melanie

Answer
Hello again Melanie,

    It is great to hear that you have opened your hearts to another hamster, he is a very lucky little guy.

    Some hamsters, when bringing them home for the first time, won't drink much. It usually takes them a few days to get used to their new home and surroundings. After that, they start getting more comfortable and will drink more.
    As for the bed fluff, I personally do not care for it, cotton or fiber, just because they will eat it (which of course is not good for them) and they tend to get their feet tangled up in it, especially the fiber bedding. I use cotton balls (which, I don't know why, I have never seen any, out of the 34 I have had over the last 6 years, eat the cotton balls, had their feet get tangled in them or had them get stuck in their pouch).
    So I would suggest taking the cotton bedding out and trying cotton balls.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thanks again for writing and best of luck to you, your family and your new hamster!